Natural History Museum of Jamaica

The Natural History Museum of Jamaica (NHMJ) is the oldest division of the Institute of Jamaica. The NHMJ grew out of the Science Museum and was established in 1879. We research, classify, identify, document, exhibit and disseminate information on Jamaica’s Natural History. Natural History is the study of all natural phenomenon including man, animals, plants, rocks and minerals. The NHMJ collections are the national repositories of Jamaican flora and fauna as stipulated under the Institute of Jamaica Act of 1979. The NHMJ has, from its inception, been a pioneer of science studies in Jamaica.

Museum facilities include:

* A herbarium which stores over 130,000 international and local plant specimens.

* A zoological collection that includes representations of all types of animals found in Jamaica, especially strong in insects.

* The Natural History Gallery that displays Jamaican plants and animals and interactive exhibits for children.

* Two field stations: Mason River in Clarendon and Green Hills near Hardwar Gap in Portland.

* The Discovery Room for children.

* A natural history library of approximately 10,000 volumes.

*An education department which plans Outreach programmes and visits for schools and other organizations. 

*  The Institute of Jamaica Gift Shop.

* Photograph and Slide collections.